Craving Mexican food but don't want to wreck your diet? Fortunately it's possible to indulge in Mexican cuisine without it turning into a complete nutritional disaster.

Here are our top picks (nutritionally speaking) for Mexican fare - you might be surprised at just how many options are out there.

Ceviche. Raw seafood cured with citrus juices, ceviche is rich in protein and low in carbs, and typically one of the lower-calorie appetizers on the menu.

Salsa. It has just five calories per spoonful, and is rich in antioxidants like lycopene and beta-carotene. Just keep your serving of chips in check, of course. Every ounce (about seven chips) has about 140 calories. Since it's easy to lose track of portions when nibbling from the basket of chips, try putting a handful or two on your plate, and stick with just that.

Guacamole. It's loaded with heart-smart fats, but if you're watching calories, it's still a good idea to keep portions in check. An order of guacamole can pack in 600 calories, and that's before you've dipped the first chip.

Cebollitas. Often served as an appetizer, cebollitas are super simple: just green onions grilled in olive oil, topped with fresh lime. Low in calories, but loaded with flavor.

Specialty salads. Many authentic Mexican restaurants offer salads that are a combination of fresh ingredients like jicama, fresh fruits, onion, chiles, and lime. This can be a nutritious start to your meal, or to shave hundreds of calories, request it in place of the rice and beans with your entrée.

Tacos. Most are in the range of 170 to 250 calories each, with 15 to 30 grams of carbs per taco. Since they're often served as a trio of tacos, my recommendation for clients who are watching their waistline is to have one as-is, and just the insides from the other two.

Corn tortillas. If you have the option of corn or flour tortillas, opt for corn. They typically have one-third the calories of regular flour tortillas (white or wheat), they're lower in sodium, and they're actually considered a whole grain. And most "wheat" tortillas at restaurants aren't really 100 percent whole grain - they're a blend of enriched wheat (white) flour and whole wheat flour.

Skinny tacos. Some restaurants offer slimmed-down tacos wrapped with lettuce leaves in place of soft tortillas or taco shells. Top with salsa, cilantro, jalapenos, and a dollop of sour cream or guacamole for a low-calorie, low-carb, flavor-packed dish.

Taco salad. Not just any taco salad, of course, since many can top 1,500 calories. But specifically ordered, a taco salad can be a decent choice. With no taco shell and minimal cheese or sour cream, a salad topped with grilled chicken, grilled steak, or shredded pork, along with sliced avocado, grilled veggies, and pico de gallo or salsa instead of salad dressing, you can have a Mexican-style salad for about 300 to 600 calories.

Burrito bowl. It's nearly impossible to have a low-calorie burrito, since just the wrap alone can have 300-plus carb-filled calories. A burrito "bowl" can be a better diet-friendly solution, but select your add-ins carefully, or you can still end up with a 1,000 calorie dish. Stick with lean proteins like grilled shrimp, chicken, or flank steak. Pile on the veggies, fresh cilantro, and pico de gallo. Keep the fiber-rich black beans but nix the rice (white or brown) to save nearly 200 calories, and add your choice of cheese, sour cream, or guacamole (not all three), to save another few hundred calories.

Fresh fish. Many authentic Mexican restaurants offer it clean and simple, just grilled or sauteed with olive oil, garlic, lime, and peppers.

Black beans, pinto beans, and grilled vegetables are usually your best bets when it comes to side items. For those watching their sodium intake, grilled vegetables can be the better option, since they're usually made to order and can be modified to be lower in salt, unlike beans, which are typically prepared in large batches.

Skinny cocktails. With a sugar-free simple syrup on hand (e.g. made with Swerve or Truvia), it's a cinch to make low-sugar margaritas and mojitos. Mix things up by adding pureed or muddled fresh fruit and herbs. Some favorite flavor combos: Pineapple-cilantro, blueberry-basil, and cucumber-jalapeno. Most of these cocktails can still clock in under 150 calories.

Molly Kimball is a registered dietitian in New Orleans. Follow her on Facebookand Twitter.